# Incident 19971120045769I: Doug DC8F55, Miami, FL, November 20, 1997

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 20, 1997, 13:12 local time
- Place: Miami, FL
- Airport: Miami International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: FXLA
- Location: 25.8191° N, 80.3007° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8191&lon=-80.3007&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55FB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55FB-2017-04-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas DC-8F-55 (registry code 3021928, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-8f-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC8F55
- Reported engine: PWA JT3D3B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 18,500 total, 11,334 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98IA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98IA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971120045769I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-5) ON NOVEMBER 20, 1997, ABOUT 1312 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A DOUGLAS DC-8F-55, N55FB, REGISTERED TO AGRO AIR ASSOCIATES, INC., OPERATED BY FINE AIR SERVICES, INC., AS FLIGHT 363, EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE IN THE NO. 4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MIAMI, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 121 NON-SCHEDULED, INTERNATIONAL, CARGO FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT-RATED CAPTAIN, FIRST OFFICER, AND FLIGHT ENGINEER, WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 1303, FROM THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MIAMI, FLORIDA. (SEE .4 FOR COMPLETE NARRATIVE)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98IA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98IA035), Nov 20, 1997: Douglas DC-8F-55 (N55FB), Miami, FL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The inadequate overhaul of the No. 4 engine start valve resulting in the valve remaining open after engine start; and the subsequent free run state of the starter resulting in a starter overheat,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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